Malian transitional government has suspended all political parties and political associations across the country until further notice, citing public order concerns.
This sweeping decision, broadcast on national television, comes just two days before a planned opposition protest and follows recent clashes at the Amadou Hampaté Ba Palace of Culture, where opposition members reported being attacked and expelled under police orders.
The move also precedes the controversial repeal of the 2005 Charter of Political Parties and the 2015 Opposition Statute, which aims to eliminate existing parties, withdraw public funding, and abolish the formal role of the opposition leader.
The new bill, based on April 2025 national consultations, introduces stringent requirements for forming political parties, including a deposit of 100 million CFA francs—a move the opposition calls an attempt to stifle pluralism.
It also opens the door for a renewable five-year presidential term for the transitional head, General Assimi Goïta, aligning Mali with fellow members of the Confederation of Sahel States.
Opposition groups had demanded a clear roadmap for returning to constitutional order by December 31, 2025, alongside the release of political prisoners and return of exiles.
